Beyond - Two Souls

The original PlayStation 3 Beyond: Two Souls follows Jodie and the entity Aiden through memories presented out of chronological order. Jodie examines objects and acts through contextual gestures, while Aiden can move through walls, possess people and disturb a scene. Switching perspectives gives the investigation unusual intimacy, but many apparently meaningful choices reconnect with a predetermined route. A few decisions produce substantial alternate scenes; they do not turn the whole story into an open narrative. Across roughly ten hours, quiet domestic moments alternate with very large action sequences. That contrast sustains curiosity, although routine object interactions and espionage detours sometimes pull attention away from Jodie herself. Detailed lived-in locations, expressive performance capture and committed lead acting convey emotions that the sprawling script cannot always support. The direct PS3 review also notes occasional animation clipping. Right-stick contextual actions, Triangle switching and Aiden’s L1-and-stick controls are straightforward to learn, yet their possible uses are tightly restricted. This judgment applies to the 2013 PS3 release, not later PlayStation 4 or PC editions with potentially different options and presentation.

Who it is for: Players who value character drama over broad agency.

Play notes: Original 2013 PS3 release, not later remasters.